I knew this was discussed here before. Here you go Walter.
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=141920
http://www.boatered.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=141920
damp rid or dehumidifier in the boat?
- Thread starter walterv
- Start date
Those look pretty cool. I just ordered a couple to try out.
How long before they change color in the cabin under the shrink wrap?
I use the calcium chloride when I have it around, but the tubs I get from Lowe's (Walmart sells them too), are not much more than what the calcium chloride costs.
I usually put two in the cabin, and one in the cockpit, and they last all winter.
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2000
- RO Number
- 36
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- 6,660
Down in Florida over the Summer, sure get the dehumidifier. Like you said leave it by the sink and let it drain over the side. It leaves a nice green mossy spot by the sink discharge.
Perhaps as the temperatures change up North you could run one once in a while but keep an eye on it. Especially since water could develop in the sink trap and freeze. If you have a garbage disposal that could become a low risk issue IHMO.
Up North in NYS, we never used one. Just don't sleep on the boat over the Winter, or spend time on it with shrink wrap on it. If you get a warm dry day let some air through. Damprid in buckets, swap them out once in a while. I plugged ALL of the bilge vents with fiberglass insulation wrapped with plastic and used damp rid in the bilges also.
Perhaps as the temperatures change up North you could run one once in a while but keep an eye on it. Especially since water could develop in the sink trap and freeze. If you have a garbage disposal that could become a low risk issue IHMO.
Up North in NYS, we never used one. Just don't sleep on the boat over the Winter, or spend time on it with shrink wrap on it. If you get a warm dry day let some air through. Damprid in buckets, swap them out once in a while. I plugged ALL of the bilge vents with fiberglass insulation wrapped with plastic and used damp rid in the bilges also.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2002
- RO Number
- 10265
- Messages
- 9,958
Over the winter not too much, but like now and in spring, they would turn pink quick. I use both, damprid and these, so not sure if they would pull more water if working alone. They take 10 min in microwave on medium to turn blue again. The pink/blue is just litmus paper.
Walter,
Depending on how hard it is to get to your engines, and if they are under your salon, you may want to consider Wolverine Heaters on the underside of your oil pans. I read an article on another site about a boater who put them in his boat and cracked the engine hatches a bit. The heat from the blocks kept the whole boat (somewhere around a 48-53 IIRC) at 68-70 degrees. He was up around your latitude. He eventually ended up putting vents in the ER hatches so he and his wife could weekend aboard on winter weekends. He removed the vents and replaced them with plugs for seasonal cruising. Additionally, his ER was kept bone dry.
Just a thought.
Depending on how hard it is to get to your engines, and if they are under your salon, you may want to consider Wolverine Heaters on the underside of your oil pans. I read an article on another site about a boater who put them in his boat and cracked the engine hatches a bit. The heat from the blocks kept the whole boat (somewhere around a 48-53 IIRC) at 68-70 degrees. He was up around your latitude. He eventually ended up putting vents in the ER hatches so he and his wife could weekend aboard on winter weekends. He removed the vents and replaced them with plugs for seasonal cruising. Additionally, his ER was kept bone dry.
Just a thought.
I'm going to use them with the damp rid stuff. The boat stays plugged in to the electric while under the shrink wrap, and I'm usually in it every week or so throughout the winter. I'll keep an eye on them and take the time to microwave them on the boat when I see them change color.